Structural truss components or the like



Filed July 5. 1961 A. M. MALLORY, JR 3,152,671

STRUCTURAL TRUSS COMPONENTS OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR,

ARNIE M. MALLORY,JR.

MW q m w Oct. 13, 1964 A. M. MALLORY, JR

STRUCTURAL TRUSS COMPONENTS 0R I'HE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 3, 1961 TVI .627 /26 33] I 26 II II II INVENTOR,

ARNIE M. MALLORY, JR. M

United States Patent The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in the design and construction of structural truss members for use in the fabrication of bridges, buildings and the like. More particularly the present invention relates to combinations of beams, channel members, 1

plates, gussets and related and similar structural forms capable of prefabrication at a predetermined location and readily transportable in modular unit condition for erection at an ultimate site of construction.

Much difficulty has been heretofore encountered in the distribution and dispersal of compressive and tensive factors evenly throughout typical structural elements and the connecting joints therebetween. The present invention pnoposes a modular form of structural element involving a beam and gusset combination to equalize and distribute static loads through the various elements and the connections and intersections thereof. The present invention additionally offers means for rigid connection and easy assembly of structural elements contained in bridges, buildings and similar structures.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful structural element for use in the fabrication of bridges, buildings and similar structures.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structural beam-like configuration having rigidly attached gusset plates at its opposite longitudinal extremities.

Another object of the device of the present invention is to provide a truss-like structural element for use in bridge construction designed to eliminate the need for secondary truss braces.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a gusset-carrying truss member and related modular structural units which may be prefabricated at a factory location and easily transported to a bridge or building site for erection thereupon.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gusset-type structural beam-like element for use in bridge constructions being accessible from either side for easier installation and erection.

A further object of the device of the present invention is to provide a combination of a substantially I-shaped beam and integrally attached gusset plates at its opposite ends for the equal distribution of static load forces or moments through the trusses attached thereto, in a cantilever, arch, catenary or suspension type bridge structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a substantially C-shaped angular chord member contained in a bridge-type construction carrying protruding end attachment plates for easier rigid attachment between the upper and lower truss spans.

A further object of the device of the present invention is to provide a modular type of structural element carrying integrally attached gusset plates at its opposite ends for use in conjunction with a substantially C-shaped sub stantially angularly disposed chord to form a rigid, stable truss section of a cantilever type bridge or building span.

Another object of the device of the present invention is to provide a combination of structural elements interconnected at a common intersection to form a substantially rigid joint in a bridge or building truss structure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a truss-like device comprising a plurality of upper and lower segmental chord members rigidly connected at their ends as by overlying attachment plates of intermediate ties and additionally supported and reinforced by transverse spanner beams having integrally attached end gusset plates rigidly attached to the intersection of the chord ends and the intermediate ties to form a substantial bridge structure.

A further object :of the invention is to generally improve the design, construction and efficiency of structural elements for bridges, buildings and similar structures.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will readily be understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective fragmentary view of the transverse spanning beam with gusset plates integrally attached to the ends thereof.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the intermediate tie members of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective fragmentary view of one of the segmental chords of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a bridge truss formed of the elements of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of a bridge span of the device as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of an intersection of the device taken as on the line VI-VI of FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view through one of the transverse beams as taken on the line VIIVII of FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, the preferred embodiment of the present invention defines a bridge or building structure 11, illustrated fragmentarily in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, comprising a pair of opposite substantially parallel cantilever type trusses 13, 14. The truss members 13, 14 are provided with upper and lower spans, each span comprising a plurality of segmental chords 15 substantially C-shaped in cross section longitudinally disposed in end to end abutment to form the upper and lower linear spans of the trusses 13, 14.

The segmental chords 15 are substantially modular in design and dimension and comprise a web section 17, axially oppositely disposed apertures 18 contained in the web 17, an upper perpendicular coextensive flange 19 and a similar perpendicular substantially coextensive lower flange 21 provided with oppositely spaced undercut indents 22. The web 17 is further provided adjacent its opposite ends with longitudinally, oppositely spaced extending end flaps 17A adjacent the undercut indents 22. The flaps 17A are integrally attached to and in coplanar relation with the web 17. Flaps 17A are preferably apertured to cooperate in the assembly of the device.

The invention is further provided with a plurality of intermediate tie members 23 of substantial channel-like configuration comprising a central web 25, and integrally attached flange elements 26 in perpendicular disposition to the central web 25. It will be observed, upon reference to FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings, that the central web 25 extends beyond the axial limits of the flanges 26 to form distal attachment plates 27, the plates 27 being pro vided with bolt apertures 28 in similar spaced relation to the like apertures 18 of the chord web 17 and flap 17A, the bodies of plates 27 being somewhat angularly offset from the longitudinal axis of members 23.

It may now be seen, upon reference to FIGS. 4 and 7 of the drawings, that when the intermediate tie members 23are disposed in an angular attitude relative to and intersecting the chords, the attachment plates 27 are in overlying facial abutment with the outer surface ends of the segmental chords 15 and depend downwardly angularly therefrom to form similar junctions with the chords of the lower spans of the truss sections 13, 14.

A modular transverse beam 29, illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, is provided as the preferred embodiment of the invention for connecting the trusses 13, 14 to form a substantially rectangular bridge structure or a skeletal frame for a building construction. It will be observed that the transverse beam 29 is provided with a pair of integrally attached axially opposed gusset plates 31, the gusset plates 31 containing Within their peripheral limits dual sets of apertures 32, the apertures 32 being spaced and positioned in the gusset plate 31 to fall into registered alinement with the similarly spaced and alined apertures 18 in the ends of the segmental chords 15 and in further register and alinement with the like apertures 28 in the adjacent plates 27 of the intermediate tie members 23. Attachment bolts 33 inserted through the registered and alined apertures 32 in the gusset plate 31, apertures 18 in the web 17 and flaps 17A of the chord 15, and apertures 28 in the attachment plate 27 of the tie member 23 may be utilized as a preferred means of securing and maintaining a rigid junction of the aforementioned modular structural units of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

It will now be seen that at the respective junctions of the trusses 13, 14 the gusset plates 31 are held against the web 17 as by the attachment bolts 33, with the extreme edges of the plates in abutting adjacency with the proximate sides of the longitudinally coextensive flange 19 of the chord 15, and the opposite vertically disposed ends of the gusset plates 31 are in nested engagement with the inner edges of the undercut indents 22 of the other flanges 21 of the chord 15, thus insuring a rigid structural intersection and preventing torsional moments of force upon the gusset plate 31 and the integrally attached transverse beam 29.

The junction or intersection is further secured as by the attachment plates 27 of the intermediate ties 23 substantially in face to face engagement with the outer face of the segmental chord 15 and firmly held thereagainst as by the attachment bolts 33 embraced by the apentures 28 of the plates 27.

It will be further seen, upon reference to FIG. 4 of the drawings, that the distal attachment plates 27 are integral extensions of the webs 25 of the tie members 23, and the axially opposite attachment plates 27 are angularly deformed with respect to the webs 25 in such manner as to effect a substantially parallel attitude between the opposite plates carried by the individual members 23.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in FIG. 4 of the accompanying drawings, it will be observed that at the upper intersecting junctions, the upwardly extending attachment plates 27 of a pair of ties 23, are adjacently attached to the ends of the segmental chords 15 as by bolt means 33, and positioned in end abutting relation to each other. The respectively integrally connected web sections 25 depend angularly outwardly and downwardly from the intersecting junction to a like junction spaced away from the aforementioned junction and similarly attached as by bolt means 33 to like end abutting segmental chords 15 to comprise a substantially equilateral, equiangular structural configuration to impart maximum strength to the overall truss sections 13, 14 by means of even distribution of stress and strain factors throughout the chords 15. The intermediate ties 23 and the transverse gusset carrying beams 29 thus eliminate the usual componential shear and torsional moments from the several intersecting junctions of the device.

It will be seen, upon reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, that the edges of gusset plates 31 abutting flanges 19 of the chords 15 provide support means for the end abutted chords 15, thus comprising a substantially uninterrupted linear span formed of a plurality of the segmental chords 15. The spanning member containing the several segmental chords 15 is additionally maintained in substantially rigid linearity as by the indented recesses 22 embracing and containing the vertical edges of the gusset plates 31 and further held thereagainst by the attachment bolt means 33.

The gusset plates 31 of the transverse beam 29 extend downwardly beyond the lower flange 21 of the segmental chord 15, thus placing the lowermost oppositely spaced apertures 32 in the gusset plate 31 into registered alinement with the similar apertures 28 carried by the attachment plates 27 of the intermediate tie members- 23. The attachment bolts 33, inserted through the lowermost oppositely spaced apertures 32 of the gusset plate 31 and the correspondingly alined apertures 28 in the attachment plates 27 provide a detachably rigid connection between the transverse beam 29, the gusset plate 31 and a pair of intermediate tie members 23. The attachment bolts 33 embraced by the apertures 32 of the gusset plate 31 and the apertures 28 in the attachment plates 27 additionally maintain the attachment plates 27 in rigid side by side adjacency to effect an even distribution of compressive and tensive loads through the intersecting junctions and the several members of the device attached thereto.

It will thus be observed from the foregoing specification and the accompanying drawings that the various intersections of the device in combination with the attached gusset plates 31 will impart vierendeel strength in a substantially horizontal direction across and through the longitudinal spans of the trusses 13, 14, thus eliminating the need for additional secondary cross bracing.

It will be also observed from the foregoing specification that the structure of the present invention may be erected in separate progressive stages between the various junctions of the device without the necessity of additional supplementary jigs, fixtures and other similar supporting means.

It will be further observed upon reference to the accompanying drawings and the foregoing specification that each of the intersecting junctions of the device of the present invention is so designed and constructed as to offer convenient access from either the inner or outer side of the truss in order to expedite the construction and erection thereof.

I claim:

1. A structural framework of substantial cantilever de sign, said structure comprising oppositely disposed similar truss sections, each of said trusses formed of upper and lower longitudinal spans, said spans comprising a plurality of modular segmental chords having vertical end edges in end abutting relation, said chords provided with substantially coextensive top and bottom flanges, the lower flanges of the upper chords and the upper flanges of the lower chords respectively indented at their opposite ends, said segmental chord ends further provided with a plurality of spaced apertures, intermediate channel-shaped tie members disposed between said upper and lower spans, said tie members embodying a web portion, coextensive oppositely spaced flanges substantially perpendicular to said web portion, attachment plates extending outwardly axially from said web portion, a plurality of spaced apertures within said attachment plates, the latter said apertures positioned to register with the corresponding apertures of the segmental chords when the said intermediate ties are substantially diagonally disposed between said upper and lower longitudinal spans, the respective attachment plates of said intermediate ties having vertical end edges in end abutment with each other and in overlying adjacency with the respective longitudinal spans, transverse beam members laterally disposed between the junctions of the pair of oppositely spaced upper said longitudinal spans and the like pair of lower said longitudinal-spans, said transverse beams provided with integrally attached apertured gusset plates, said gusset plates positioned in overlying adjacency with the junctions of the respective segmental chords comprising the said longitudinal spans, said gusset plates further positioned in abutting relation to the unindented flanges of said segmental chords of the longitudinal span at the respective junctions thereof, said gusset plates additionally nested within the end indents of the indented flange members of the respective chords of the longitudinal spans with the end edges of the plates abutting said indents, the apertures of the said gusset plates being in registered alinement with the corresponding apertures of the adjacent segmental chord ends and the like apertures of the abutting attachment plates therebeyond and bolt means engaged by the apertures of the gusset plates, the like apertures of the adjacent chord ends and the correspondingly alined apertures of the attachment plates beyond said segmental chords maintaining said structural framework in rigid unitary condition.

2. A structural framework of substantial cantilever design, said structure comprising oppositely disposed similar truss sections, each of said trusses formed of upper and lower longitudinal spans, said spans comprising a plurality of segmental chords having vertical end edges in end abutting relation, said segmental chord ends provided with a plurality of spaced apertures, intermediate channelshaped tie members angularly disposed between said upper and lower longitudinal spans, said tie members embodying a web portion, coextensive oppositely spaced flanges substantially perpendicular to said web portion, attachment plates extending outwardly axially from said web portion and having vertical end edges, the end edges of adjacent attachment plates abutting, aplurality of spaced apertures within said attachment plates, transverse gusset carrying beams laterally disposed between the intersecting junctions of the upper longitudinal spans, like transverse gusset carrying beams disposed similarly between the junctions of the opposite lower spans, the said gusset plates having horizontally opposite sets of apertures, said apertures positioned in registered alinement with the apertures of the chord ends and the apertures of the at tachment plates, and suitable bolt means engaged in the respective apertures maintaining said structural fnamework in rigid unitary condition.

3. In a structural framework of substantially cantilever design, a pair of opposite similar trusses, each of said trusses comprising like upper and lower longitudinal spans, said spans formed of modular C-shaped segmental chord members having vertical end edges in end abutment, said segmental chord members provided with substantially coextensive flanges, the lower flanges of the upper chord members and the upper flanges of the lower chord members indented at their axially opposite ends, gusset plates securely nested within said indentations, said gusset plates having end edges abutting said indentations, means attaching the said gusset plates to the segmental chords, transverse spacer beams integrally mounted to said gusset plates to maintain said longitudinal spans in substantial parallelism, intermediate tie members diagonally disposed between the said upper and lower longitudinal spans of the truss and axially protruding attachment plates appended to said intermediate tie members overlying and adjacently attached to the said upper and lower longitudinal spans to further contain said spans and said trusses in rigid unitary condition.

4. In a structural framework of substantially cantilever design comprising a pair of opposite similar trusses, each of said trusses comprising like upper and lower longitudinal spans, each of said spans formed of modular segment-a1 chord members having vertical end edges in end abutment, intermediate channel shaped tie members disposed between said upper and lower spans, gusset carrying transverse beams interposed laterally between the upper opposite spans of the said trusses, like gusset carrying tranverse beams interposed between the lower opposite spans of said trusses and attachment means connecting the various elements of said trusses at their respective intersections to form a rigid unitary structure.

5. A structural framework of substantially cantilever design, comprising a pair of oppositely spaced substantially parallel truss members, each of said truss members formed of longitudinal upper and lower spans, each of said longitudinal spans comprised of a plurality of end abutting segmental chords, said chords having vertical end edges in abutting relation, intermediate tie members disposed between said upper and lower longitudinal spans, said tie members carrying outwardly extending attachment plates, said attachment plates positioned in overlying adjacency with the segmental chord ends, and having vertical end edges in abutting relation, transverse gusset beams interposed between the opposite upper longitudinal spans at their respective junctions, similar gusset beams interposed between the opposite lower longitudinal spans at their respective junctions, axially opposite gusset plates integrally aifixed to said transverse gusset beams, said gusset plates positioned in overlying adjacency with the intersecting junctions of the said abutting segmental chords and attachment means securing the respective inter secting junctions and maintaining the completed structure in stable rigid condition.

References fitted in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 300,169 Italy Aug. 31, 1932 

1. A STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK OF SUBSTANTIAL CANTILEVER DESIGN, SAID STRUCTURE COMPRISING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED SIMILAR TRUSS SECTIONS, EACH OF SAID TRUSSES FORMED OF UPPER AND LOWER LONGITUDINAL SPANS, SAID SPANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF MODULAR SEGMENTAL CHORDS HAVING VERTICAL END EDGES IN END ABUTTING RELATION, SAID CHORDS PROVIDED WITH SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE TOP AND BOTTOM FLANGES, THE LOWER FLANGES OF THE UPPER CHORDS AND THE UPPER FLANGES OF THE LOWER CHORDS RESPECTIVELY INDENTED AT THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS, SAID SEGMENTAL CHORD ENDS FURTHER PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF SPACED APERTURES, INTERMEDIATE CHANNEL-SHAPED TIE MEMBERS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID UPPER AND LOWER SPANS, SAID TIE MEMBERS EMBODYING A WEB PORTION, COEXTENSIVE OPPOSITELY SPACED FLANGES SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID WEB PORTION, ATTACHMENT PLATES EXTENDING OUTWARDLY AXIALLY FROM SAID WEB PORTION, A PLURALITY OF SPACED APERTURES WITHIN SAID ATTACHMENT PLATES, THE LATTER SAID APERTURES POSITIONED TO REGISTER WITH THE CORRESPONDING APERTURES OF THE SEGMENTAL CHORDS WHEN THE SAID INTERMEDIATE TIES ARE SUBSTANTIALLY DIAGONALLY DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID UPPER AND LOWER LONGITUDINAL SPANS, THE RESPECTIVE ATTACHMENT PLATES OF SAID INTERMEDIATE TIES HAVING VERTICAL END EDGES IN END ABUTMENT WITH EACH OTHER AND IN OVERLYING ADJACENCY WITH THE RESPECTIVE LONGITUDINAL SPANS, TRANSVERSE BEAM MEMBERS LATERALLY DISPOSED BETWEEN THE JUNCTIONS OF THE PAIR OF OPPOSITELY SPACED UPPER SAID LONGITUDINAL SPANS AND THE LIKE PAIR OF LOWER SAID LONGITUDINAL SPANS, SAID TRANSVERSE BEAMS PROVIDED WITH INTEGRALLY ATTACHED APERTURED GUSSET PLATES, SAID GUSSET PLATES POSITIONED IN OVERLYING ADJACENCY WITH THE JUNCTIONS OF THE RESPECTIVE SEGMENTAL CHORDS COMPRISING THE SAID LONGITUDINAL SPANS, SAID GUSSET PLATES FURTHER POSITIONED IN ABUTTING RELATION TO THE UNINDENTED FLANGES OF SAID SEGMENTAL CHORDS OF THE LONGITUDINAL SPAN AT THE RESPECTIVE JUNCTIONS THEREOF, SAID GUSSET PLATES ADDITIONALLY NESTED WITHIN THE END INDENTS OF THE INDENTED FLANGE MEMBERS OF THE RESPECTIVE CHORDS OF THE LONGITUDINAL SPANS WITH THE END EDGES OF THE PLATES ABUTTING SAID INDENTS, THE APERTURES OF THE SAID GUSSET PLATES BEING IN REGISTERED ALINEMENT WITH THE CORRESPONDING APERTURES OF THE ADJACENT SEGMENTAL CHORD ENDS AND THE LIKE APERTURES OF THE ABUTTING ATTACHMENT PLATES THEREBEYOND AND BOLT MEANS ENGAGED BY THE APERTURES OF THE GUSSET PLATES, THE LIKE APERTURES OF THE ADJACENT CHORD ENDS AND THE CORRESPONDINGLY ALINED APERTURES OF THE ATTACHMENT PLATES BEYOND SAID SEGMENTAL CHORDS MAINTAINING SAID STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK IN RIGID UNITARY CONDITION. 